Best of Both Worlds?

Why I am Choosing Homebirth Before Conception

By Christy Rogers

A little less than a year ago, my best friend had a baby, which made me painfully aware that my own biological clock was ticking away. Being the research hound that I am, I began making weekly trips to the library, bringing home every book on pregnancy and childbirth I could find. I came across Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way (Plume Books, revised edition 1996) by Susan McCutcheon. I had heard about the Bradley Method from a cable television show called A Baby Story. Curious, I took the book home. This book was the turning point for me, as I haven't viewed childbirth the same since.

I had always assumed I would have a conventional birth – hospital, epidural, IV, legs in stirrups, episiotomy, and baby tucked nicely (and quietly) away in the nursery once born. Every woman I knew had had her baby this way, so why should I be any different? And who on earth would voluntarily put herself through all that pain? After reading McCutcheon's book, I began to wonder if maybe there isn't a better way – maybe I could give birth naturally, unmedicated, and with as few interventions as possible.

Admittedly, I was still skeptical. All the usual visions of childbirth were still ingrained in my head, and I was afraid of what might happen if I put myself in the position of not being able to have access to all the technology should I need it. I decided that I would try to have a natural, unmedicated childbirth, via the Bradley Method, in a hospital – but not be totally closed to the idea of pain relief. Best of both worlds, I thought.

The next books I read were Husband Coached Childbirth

Want to see more?

• Maybe Another Baby
• Before Baby: Choosing Breastfeeding
• Later in Life: Pregnancy at 35 and Older
• Talk about it!